Putin, government officials to discuss economic situation in Ukraine on April 9

MOSCOW, April 08. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss on Wednesday, April 9, the extraordinary situation in the economic cooperation with Ukraine, including in the energy sector, at a meeting with senior government officials.

"Tomorrow, Putin plans to meet with the government leadership to discuss the extraordinary situation developing in the economic cooperation with Ukraine, including in energy dialogue," presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

In the second quarter of this year, Gazprom increased gas price for Ukraine to $385.5 per 1,000 cubic meters, as Ukraine's Naftogaz had failed to meet its commitments on timely payment of gas bills and debt repayment under the amending agreement which set the gas price at $268.5.

In response, the self-proclaimed Kiev authorities said the gas price fixed by Russia did not suit them. Parliament-appointed Minister of Economics and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan said Ukraine "won't acknowledge this price," because "it is unfair."

It is not a market price, Prodan said. "We proceed from the premise that accords were reached in late 2013 setting the gas price at $268.5 from January 1, 2014."

"The contract cites no reasons for changing the price, for example by sharply increasing it," Prodan said.

He suggested that Russia and Ukraine gather in the beginning of each quarter to negotiate a co-efficient to adjust the formula to $268.5." There are no obstacles to it," the Ukrainian minister said.